Ok well my initial plan was to post a couple pages of a draft up here, but instead I decided to post what Lavender dubs a "zero" draft.
I was having difficulties with an idea to use for my essay, and I am still unsure as a method of structuring, but I have an idea I think I can run with. I mentioned in an earlier post how I thought that Emerson was the most profound. However, I didn't really back up my statement with any specifics. After sorting though it, I decided that it is because he took a position on religion that I had come to believe was a much less conflict-inducing view.
So, that being said, I was thinking of using that as a springboard (particularly his Divinity School Address) to write my essay on religion.
I've previously attempted to write an attack on the church in the Protest ISP. While it impressed a few people, I felt very little satisfaction from it. So I will not be writing another, at least not in that style.
Instead I was considering writing a "solution" per se, rather than a complaint. I think this could be quite interesting as I have a lot of back research that I can use ON TOP of Emerson's poignant quotes like "Meanwhile the doors of the temple stand open day and night...", "Jesus was of the true race of prophets", or (possibly my personal favorite) "Wherever there comes a man, there comes a revolution." (this one could easily fit into my philosophy for anyone who is questioning that one's relevance, but I won't go into a long detailed description of why).
I am still debating on how to frame it. It was suggested to "go" to a church service, possibly bump into Emerson, or just use his quotes. However, these ideas don't strike me as something that'd work well. I'm not throwing them off the table, but I would be interested in any other ideas that could be interesting. (other ideas I've thought about/been suggested are to write my own doctrine, modernize the Divinity School Address, etc.)
Feedback is much appreciated
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This sounds like a very interesting essay, and I think the idea of writing your own doctrine could work well, as the basic frame work. You could state a simple law, and then have that lead to a section explaining it with yours and Emerson's insights. Maybe 10 laws outlining a 'true' religion, celebrating humanity instead of a deity?
ReplyDeleteI think this is an interesting idea, yet there are several areas to be careful off.
ReplyDelete1. Do no simply restate Emerson own ideas in your own words.
2. You say you will make a solution not a complaint. Stick to this.
3. Do not come across as a anti-spiritual hardcore writer in the steps of so many other failed visionaries.
I hope this does not come across as too blunt. This could be a great essay.
I think your idea on structuring your essay around a church setting would not be beneficial unless you actually go to church (either on a regular basis or every once and a while, obviously mine is based around church and i only go twice a year) but you have to have something to build off of, not just your imagination.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of a solution. I think we have so many complaints in this world that solutions are never offered, or people just dont make time for them. I think you could even go overboard and suggest any possible solution you can come up with, no matter it's certainty of being obtained or not.
Your ideas of the attack on the church, though opaque in my mind, definitely meant something, but this essay could almost be a follow up, with ways of fixing your own argument-take the next step.
I think that using Emerson can be strong for this topic but i think you can also find back up in whitman and thoreau by their belief of finding the self through other ways and praising what they believe to be true not through an institution per say, but through only what they believe. of course, emerson addresses this issue as well.
i think what you said for me can relay to yours... just keep writing.
This is an odd idea AJ, i think that your idea of writing a solution might be a little to large an endevor to get in this essay. I think that your modernizing the Divinity School Address would be the most fun and practical. I would love to comment on what you think you are going to use as ideas, but you didn't post them! LAZY! anyways i'm interested to see how this turns out.
ReplyDelete